William l



(No Model.)

W. L. LANGLEY. V

PIOKER STEM FOR COTTON HARVESTBRS. NO. 372,919. Patented NOV.8,- 1887.

' ATTORNEY.

'IlNTTTnn STATns PATENT Truce.

WILLIAM L. LANGLEY, OF NEWARK, NEWV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE LANGLEY COTTON HARVESTER COMPANY OF NEW YORK CITY.

PlCKER-STEM FOR COTTON-HARVESTElS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 372,919, dated November 8,1887.

Application filed December 20, 1886. Serial No. 222,115.

. To (all whom it 12mg concern: 7

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM L. LANGLEY, a citizen of-the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Picker-Stems for Cotton-Harvesters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a picker-stem for picking cotton from the bolls on plants in the field. stems of this character are used on machines which are mounted 011 wheels to be moved in the field along a row of cotton-plants.

The invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side view of the improved picker-stem. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the improved pickenstem. Fig. 3 is a view of one tooth-plate in the finished condition ready to be secured in the stem. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the core part and guardplates. Fig. 5 is a view of the point-cap of the stem. Fig. 6 is a cross section of the stem. Fig. 7 is a view of the shank-head of the stem. Figs. 8 'and 9 are views of the shank-fastenings. Figs. 10 and 11 are cross-sections of the stem and show modifications in the number and position of toothplates and the number and shape of the tooth-guards.

The letter a designates a longitudinal plate of suitable metal. This plate is flat, and one edge, a, is straight and smooth, and the other edge, (62,.1'S provided with inclined teeth I). The longitudinal tooth-plates are combined with longitudinal guard-ribs and arranged so that each tooth-plate, with its teeth pointing outward, shall be between two guard-ribs and form longitudinal spaces. The finished pickerstem therefore possesses the several features named. Of course there may be much variation in the construction for uniting these parts. One way only will here be described. The tooth-plates aresecured to a central core part, 0, provided with longitudinal guard-ribs d and longitudinal spaces 6. In other words, the cylindric body may be said to belongitudinally corrugated or fluted, as seen in-Fig. 6. The core part 0 may be solid or'tubular, and the guard-ribs d may be integral withthe coreor may be separate parts attached tothe (No model.)

I core. Between each two guard-ribs d the core has a longitudinal groove,f, which receives the smooth edge a of the tooth-plate, leaving the teeth pointing outward, and proend, 5 Two caps, I J, are employed-one for the point end of the stem and oneior the shank end. The point-head I 'has a central socket, h, which receives one journal end 9 of the of which receives an endof one of the toothplates. The outer end of each radial groove is closed at 70 and forms-a lipthat is, the grooves do not extend to the circumference of the said plate in the longitudinal groove f.

shank N, a socket or enlargement, h, around ends of the tooth-plates.

To assemble the several parts of the pickerstem, the tooth-plates a are set in the longioutward and incline toward the shank, and the caps I J are placed in position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and secured by pins m or in any suitable way, whereby, as already depicker-stem has a shank, N, which may be secured in any desired way. In the presentinstance the shank N has position in the end of the core part 0 and in the central hole, Z, of the cap J. picker-stem, its shank, and a holder as to form a flexible or yielding connection between the picker-stem and holder. The holder 0 is a suitable arm or plate constituting part of'a machine not necessary to describe here. is provided with a hole, 19, for the shank N of the picker-stem, which latter fits loosely in the hole, in order thereby to permit the pickerstem to revolve, to move slightly endwise, and

orally in all directions. ments, or either of them alone, are useful and desirable in the work that a cotton-picker stem has to do. The spring Q surrounds the shank,

jectingat each end ofthe core isaroundjournal core part, and also has radial grooves a", each the head, and the said closed lip It takes over the outer edge of the tooth-plate and confines The shank-head J has a central hole, Z, for the the said central hole for onejournal end 9 of 0 the core part, and radial grooves a for the tudinal groovesf so that the teeth shall point 7 scribed, the caps confine the tooth-plates. The

A spring is so combined with the to allow the point end of the stem to move lat- 5 All of these moveand one end bears against the holder 0 and the other end takes effect on the picker-stein. In this combination the spring to be used may be either a spiral spring, Q, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or a rubber spring, Q, as shown in Fig. 9.

In the drawings two positions for the spring are shown. In Fig. l the spring is on the side of the holder most remote from the cap J of the picker-stem, and is interposed between the said holder and a disk, r, on the shank. In Figs. 2 and 9 the spring is on the side of the holder 0 nearest the head of the pickerstem, and in this instance is interposed between the said holder and head. The expansive tendency of the spring in the described combination serves to keep the picker-stem projecting horizontally, and at the same time allows its point end to move within certain limits either up, down, or sidewise.

A special novel construction in the said spring combination is shown in Figs. 2, S, and 9. Here the spring may be either spiral metal or rubber. On the side of the holder most remote from the pickerstem cap J is a curved disk, 8, the outer curved side of which is in contact with the holder 0. Figs. 2 and 8 show.

the vertical position of this curved disk, and Fig. 9 gives a horizontal section of the same. A pin,'t, passes vertically through the extremity of the shank N, and said pin is in contact with the straight part of the inner curved side of the disk. This device serves much better to sustain the picker-stein horizontally, while allowing freedom to move laterally. The combination which includes the spring is not limited to the construction and arrangement of the tooth-plates, guard-plates, or spaccs.

The picker-stem may have any desired number of toothplates and guard'plates. In Fig. 6 eight are shown, while in Fig. 10 four only are shown, and in Fig. 11 six are shown.

The longitudinal tooth-plates have been de scribed and are hereinafter claimed as having outward or ,radially pointing teeth. It is not essential, however, that they should. be m dial. Fig. 11isillustrativeofontward-pointing teeth which are not radial. In this case the teeth point outward, but incline tangentially. A picker-stem having such teeth may revolve or not.

This form of picker-stem will readily enter the plant, and the cotton which protrudes loosely from the bolls on the plants will be caught or hooked by the teeth, and when the back movement of the stem takes place the cotton will be drawn out of the boll. The special guard-plates, while protecting the outwardpointing teetl1,are so arranged as to form the longitudinal spaces 0, which facilitates the engagement of the cotton on the teeth.

Having described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1. A cotton-picker stem consisting of acore, 0, end eaps,I J, and longitudinal tooth-plates secured in grooves in the core of said stem, substantially as shown and described.

2. A cottonpicker stem consisting of acore havingjonrnal ends with end caps and longitudinal tooth-plates seated in grooves in said core, ashank entering the core-stem, and a holder,O,substantially as shown anddescribed.

3. In a cotton-picker stem, the combination of the core 0, having guard-ribs d and journal ends f/, with the caps I and .I, having sockets h, the tootlrplate a, arranged longitudinally between the said guard-ribs d, having the spaces 0 on each side, all substantially as shown and described.

4. In a cotton-picker stem, the combination of the core (J, the end caps,I and J, having the radial grooves a, lips k, and the tooth-plates a, arranged and secured thereto, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a cottonpicker stem,the core Qhaving longitudinal guard-ribs d, in combination with tooth-plates a, arranged between said guardribs, the shank N, the holder 0, having opening therein, the spring Q between the holder and the base of the stem, and a pin on outer end of said shank, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

\VILLI AM L. LANGLEY.

\Vitncsses:

J OIIN E. MoRRis, CHAS. B. MANN. 

